What price competition? The management of competitive funding in UK local government

The study examines the management of competitive funding by UK local authorities. This funding, which is additional to core funding, is seen by authorities to be worth securing because it gives them the ability to provide services over and above those that must be provided to meet legislative requirements. However the evidence shows that considerable pressures are being placed upon local authorities as a result. These can be distinguished according to whether they are outside a local authority’s control, such as lateness of approval notification, or within their control, such as the provision of bidding activity cost information. Whilst competition remains as a feature of resource allocation, these pressures must be addressed by external agencies and local authorities as appropriate. The article concludes with a series of proposals for improved practice.